§ MR. ARTHUR LEEI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the total cost to date of the operations in connection with the salvage of H.M.S. "Gladiator"; whether he proposes to incur the further expenditure that would be necessary if this vessel is to be restored to a state of fighting efficiency; and, if so, what is the estimated cost of her repairs and refit.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe total cost to date is about £54,000. The course to be taken with the vessel will be decided when the estimated cost of repairing her is known.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEasked whether the Admiralty would consider whether it was worth while to spend the large sum of money necessary to restore the vessel to fighting efficiency seeing that it was already obsolete.
§ MR. McKENNAsaid that he did not accept as accurate the statement of the hon. Member, but the Board of Admiralty would of course consider all the circumstances.